Faucets



B. CRIST FAUCETS Dec. 1, 1959 1 /m7 m m h M n C m Y 3 u m 0 B 5 m. n m mATTORNEY B. CRIST FAUCETS Dec. 1, 1959 Filed Oct. 17, 1955 3Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY :5 sheets-slim s R7! m m Mm 7; Q an A \N QM. i Mll l Il l 11 \m m M U- wm R r Dec. 1, 1959 Filed Oct. 17, 1955 4 UnitedStates Patent 2,915,278 FAUCETS Buckley Crist, Muncie, Ind., assignor,by mesue assignments, to The Coca-Cola Company, New York, N.Y., a p meaon o De a ar Application October 1-7 19 55, Serial No. 540,895 a ms, tl- 251: 22)

7 This invention relates to valves, and more particularly requires asmall cross-sectional area which in turn tends to generatehigh velocityof fluid being dispensed. Various methods have in the past been'used to'dec'ele'rate such fluid without undue turbulence creati0n of negativepressures, oriothe'rwise generating foam with resultant loss ofearbonationf methods include exiti nlg 'the high velocity stream into acomparativelylarge' pool or fluid which in effect drowns the highvelocity stream; grad- ,iially enlarging the cross-seetional areawith'tapeting'passages; and the employment of variouschokesfrestr-icto'rs, and other elements providing a large degree ofsurface gupjonwfiic energy may be'used up'lin frie' tion. i

"Iheinstant invention employs new and novel means ineffectingthe'desired'result, and may be'saidt Consist essentially of aseries of nozzles in tandem, of increasing i onal area'g fluid in effectbeingalternately accele; ed, and deceleratedl It is accelerated past thenozzle, thereby converting pressure energy into kinetic energy; ail dthen after leaving the nozzle" it enters a passage of eiipahding cresssectional area where the liquid decelerat converting veleeity energyback to' pressureenergy, with a desired loss of efficiency' This meansthat the fli id atthe'next lower pressure accelerates more slowlythrough the 'neXt nozzle, "which is of larger area, and leaviiigthe'lastof the series flows n wly/and quietly without the foaming which wdul'dbe fatal'to automatic vending s lat-titans;- which are becomingincreasingly popular today', 'as for example, dispensing a measuredquantity 6f a, c arb oiiated"beverage"into a paper cup. If foamingecitrs during this operation, there is an uneconomic overflow ofbeverage," resultant sanitation and other problems; whereas if a' cupsufiiciently'larg'e to prevent this is employedf there is asubstantialwaste of stock and space withih' the machine; as well as potentialdissatisfaction the "part bf the customer who'may feel that he has berieheated when he receives a' cup that is substantially 1e than fullwhen the foam has subsided.

the presentinyenti'on, the liquid in effect, .passes a series fefventuri orifices." The sharp edges of the flow restrictorshould betounded off to a radius of approxie'ly .005 inch to prevent formation"of veria contracta; and the angle of the tapered passage following the(print should be'frorn to 14. 'It'h'asbeen found that jthe'rate ofincrease of cross-sectional area or an an ular passageof 14 taper is thesame as that of a conicifnc v zzle of'f-l /z" taper (7 included angle),which is wandered the maximum desirable angle for venturi p ifiqe objectof this invention is to provide a faucet which ice 2 will preventfoaming in the dispensing of a carbonated w g l, .7 i a. s h, ,7 aAnother object is to provide simplicity of construction insu'cha device.5 i i Another object is to make possible ease of access for cleaning andservicing. a A stillfurther object is to make possible flexibility insuch a'faucet, in keeping with its' intended use. i

'ig k'nethe'f object is to" make possible conservation of space in suchan instrumentality. i A i Another object is to'conserve materials.

These and other'objects made possible bysubject faucet are accomplishedby means ofthe instant invention, a full and" complete understanding ofwhich is facilitated by reference to the drawings herein in which:

Q Fig. l is a view "in vertical longitudinal cross-section of a valveembodyingthisinventiont' Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, in whichthe faucet is open however, and 'in which the rest'ric tor element'andsome 'of its associated structure is shown by a side view; Fig." 3 is avertical sectional view taken substantially alng' thelirie 3 3 of Fig.'1, lookin'gin the direction ofth'e arrows; i

Fig. is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4 4,.ofFigt1; sa. y a.

Fig'f'S is a'similar view taken substantially along the line s 5trFig;1;'

Fig. 6 is a side view of the instant flow restrictor;

Pig. "7' isa vertical longitudinal sectional view 'of the strueture ofFig: 6; a Fig; 8 isanend view of the device of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is "a side view of the valve stem and'valve seal which are'partof the instant structure; and

' "Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 10 10 of'Fig. 9 andshowirig said seal inplace on'the valve stem. i

' Like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the variousfigures or the drawings." Referring new tosaid drawings, the instantdispensing valve comprises an elbow' 10,iwith which isassociated a tubellafid'a body portion 12, all preferablyfabricated rrema plasticmaterial andheld together under com- "p'r e's sidnby sheave '13; ashroud lfl, anda loekring l 5, which engage conventionahthreads tocompress rubber seals" It? and 17, thereby producing a "pressure-type as y l. v

Pesitioned within tube 11 is a flow restrictor 18likewise"preferably"'fabrieated of plastic, "which is held in placeby'anadjustingrod 19 which may bee'mbedd'ed in one end 'z'p'oru'emem 18Adjusting red 19"extends through a gland 21 formed in 10, and may 'bejriioved lengthwise by' rotating adjusting nut 22' on the threaded end"'23of rod 19. A conneetion to a beverage supply undehpressure is madethrough line 24; initial flowbeing stoppedby the seating of rubber seal25 on the valve seat 26 of body member 12. Said seal is secured to'a*v'alve stern 27 by a plurality of stainless steel 'was'hers'28and29'and asna p ring or rings 30 which may ride or anchor in suitablegrooves provided in valve "stem 27;

Said sterri passes through a hole 31 in body- 12 and at its'outer end isengaged bya lever 32 having an operating handle 33 afiixed to its upperportion. The lever is piv oted at 34 by rneansof a tr'ansverse pin 35which is supported in conventional bearings at the end of the shroiid,said leverbeing'slotted as at 36, and stem 27 isvgrooved at 3710 engagesaid leverwhereby the i'otatio'nthereof about its pivot 34 causes valveelement 25 to movefrom its seat, thereby allowing beverage to flowthrough the system. ,s. .s

'Special attention is now directed to flow restrictor- 18,

iinifdfni straight ta er. The flow res'tr ictor has the same 3 taper asthe tube in its gross aspects for about half its length, the remainderbeing cylindrical. The exterior surface of said restrictor is providedwith one or more steps or notches 38, which provide in effect a seriesof annular nozzles, the first several of which within a series being ofthe same cross-sectional area, and the nozzles that follow achievinggreater cross-sectional area as the distance between the inner wall oftube 11 and the outer surface of the flow restrictor increases.

Beverage entering at 24 moves through the annulus formed by the flowrestrictor and the tube, the series of rstrictions caused by the shapeof the flow restrictor causing a loss of pressure in the carbonatedbeverage. The amount of this loss and consequently the flow rate can beadjusted by moving flow restrictor 18 longitudinally in the tapered tubein the manner described heretofore. Moving said restrictor towards inlet24 decreases the flow rate.

The beverage leaving the annulus caused by theflow restrictor tube fillsthe volume ahead of the valve opening and moves at a relatively lowvelocity and at approximately atmospheric pressure, flowing by valveseat 26 into bore 39 and filling it, after which the fluid flows outthrough spigot 40, and likewise filling that. At the discharge end ofthe spigot, it flows in a quiet stream, tests having shown that thebeverage can fall from 3 to 12 inches into a receptacle without undueturbulence and foaming. The valve stem 27 moves slideably within bore 41in the discharge end of restrictor 18 which arrangement supports theends of the valve stem and the flow restrictor and maintains theiralignment.

The entire valve can be easily disassembled for sanitizing and servicepurposes by unscrewing the lock ring 15, upon which shroud 14 containingbody member 12 and valve stem 27 can be disconnected, and the bodyremoved from the shroud, releasing element 35 so that lever 32 can bewithdrawn and said valve stem removed. It is readily apparent that theremaining elements can be broken down completely.

Experiments have been made with from 1 to 14 steps or nocthes 38 formedin a flow restrictor such as 18, and good results have been obtained inall cases, it being apparent however that the optimum number will dependon the particular circumstances of use and the results desired. Forexample, in a cup vending machine where the flow rate is constant, and acasual drink from the faucet when such is as hot as 100 Fahrenheit mustbe served, a single small step with a 12 angle and .02 inch deep in theflow restrictor, in combination with the exponentially flared tube 11gave best results. The manual faucet illustrated, which uses a taperedbore and flow restrictor to allow for variable pressures and flow rates,works best with 4 or steps or notches such as 38. The ratio of area ofthe smallest or throat area to the largest area ahead of the nextthroat, should be 1 to 3, or less, the smaller the ratio, the greaterthe pressure loss. The flow restrictor is cut off at its downstream end42 at a 90 angle, experience having shown that such treatment issuperior to a-tapered or streamlined end.

It will also be apparent that the instant valve may be constructed insuch a manner that the notches are formed in the inner surface of thetube 11 and the flow restrictor 18 left smooth, this being a merereversal of parts and basic hydraulic functions being in no waydisturbed thereby.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there hasbeen shown anddescribed a faucet of superior design which decelerates high velocityfluid with a minimum of loss of carbonation, and without foaming. Thatsaid valve is economical in its space requirements, with particularreference to the volume of fluid being handled. That said device is easyto service and clean, susceptible of manufacture with a minimum ofproduction difliculties, and thoroughly desirable for its intendedpurposes. It will ,be further noted that thesmall volume of fluidremaining in the faucet at the end of a draw, together with the factthat it is preferably fabricated of a poor heat conducting plastic,permits the faucet tooperate successfully without the necessity of beingrefrigerated.

While there has been shown a specific embodiment of the instantinvention herein, and such described in detail, it is understood that nolimitation is implied thereby, but on the contrary the appended claimsare to be given an interpretation and scope fairly in keeping with thecontribution to the art.

I claim:

1. In a faucet for dispensing carbonated beverages, a hollow tube, aflow restrictor positioned within said tube having an outer surfaceopposed to the inner surface of the tube, a notch formed in one of saidsurfaces, said notch having a tapered portion providing a graduallyincreasing cross-sectional area of the space between said surfaces, thetapered portion of said notch terminating in a plane radial portion atwhich the cross-sectional area of the space between said surfaces isabruptly reduced, a fluid inlet to the tube, a valve positioned withinsaid tube, means for actuating said valve, and a discharge outletcommunicating with said tube.

2. In a device for dispensing carbonated beverages, a tubular memberhaving a bore, a fluid inlet adjacent the upstream end thereof, a valveadjacent the downstream end thereof and an outlet downstream from saidvalve, and a flow restrictor within said bore and substantiallyconcentric therewith, said flow restrictor and said bore havingjuxtaposed surfaces with the cross-sectional area of the clearance spacebetween said surfaces increasing in the direction of flow of fluidthrough said bore, at least one notch formed in one of said surfaces,said notch having a conical tapered portion providing a graduallyincreasing cross-sectional area of said clearance space in the directionof fluid flow and terminating in a plane radial portion at which thecross-sectional area of the clearance space is abruptly reduced, theintersection of the tapered portion and the radial portion being anacute angle, and means for actuating said valve without moving said flowrestrictor.

3. In a device for dispensing carbonated beverages, a tubular memberhaving a. tapered bore, a fluid inlet adjacent the upstream end thereof,a valve adjacent the downstream end thereof and an outlet downstreamfrom said valve, the diameter of said bore increasing in the directionof flow of fluid therethrough, and a flow restrictor within said boreand substantially concentric therewith, said flow restrictor and saidbore having juxtaposed surfaces having the same taper, at least onenotch formed in one of said surfaces, said notch having a conicaltapered portion providing a gradually increasing crosssectional area ofsaid clearance space in the direction of fluid flow and terminating in aplane radial portion at which the cross-sectional area of the clearancespace is abruptly reduced, the outer edge of said radial portion havinga radius of approximately 0.005 inch.

4. In a device for dispensing carbonated beverages, a tubular memberhaving a bore, a fluid inlet adjacent the upstream end thereof, a valveadjacent the downstream end thereof and an outlet downstream from saidvalve, and a flow restrictor within said bore and substantiallyconcentric therewith,.said flow restrictor and said bore havingjuxtaposed surfaces with the cross-sectional area of the clearance spacebetween said surfaces increasing a in the direction of flow of fluidthrough said bore, a

tubular member having a tapered bore, a fluid inlet adjacent theupstream end thereof, a valve adjacent the downstream end thereof and anoutlet downstream from said valve, the diameter of said bore increasingin the direction of flow of fluid therethrough, and a flow restrictorwithin said bore and substantially concentric therewith, said flowrestrictor having a tapered portion corresponding substantially with thetaper of said bore, the surface of said flow restrictor having aplurality of notches formed therein, each of said notches having atapered portion providing a gradually increasing cross-sectional area ofsaid clearance space in the direction of fluid flow and terminating in aplane radial portion at which the cross- 6 sectional area of theclearance space is abruptly reduced, the intersection of said taperedportion and said radial portion being an acute angle, the downstream endof said flow restrictor being cut off substantially perpendicular to theaxis thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.17,824 Lee Oct. 14, 1930 1,919,232 Lee July 25, 1933 2,162,842 DolisonJune 20, 1939 2,461,909 McClure Feb. 15, 1949 2,564,287 Stephany Aug.14, 1951

